Among the many successful freelancers you can find on Upwork, this time we present to you Cathy Mangulabnan. The services she offers are Virtual Assistant/Project Manager/Executive Assistant/Lead Generation. She is married to a Seafarer and a mom of two. Cathy is an undergraduate of BS Nursing at Our Lady of Fatima University in the Philippines. She works as a freelancer since 2011, closely with business owners from different countries, and sometimes also with a team.
“I am enjoying my work and I like what I do!” says Cathy.
“I grew up and currently living in Quezon City, Philippines.” adds Cathy. “I love reading and learning new things most specially about skills and personal development. I love to cook for my family. I love music, watching action movies and traveling.”
She says that spending time in nature with family helps her to relieve stress, improve mood, increase life satisfaction, boost feelings of happiness and wellbeing. Cathy always wants to get an opportunity to relax during weekends after long hours of work. It is also a time for her to spend time with family, which is important to have a healthy work-life balance.
– How do you manage to cover so many different jobs (Virtual Assistant/Project Manager/Executive Assistant/Lead Generation).
Time Management is essential for managing multiple clients. You need to identify which task is the high priority, which task you can quickly get done so you can move on to the next one and get it done.
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I organize, track and plan everything to avoid burning out. I always plan my week. I make sure that my plan is realistic to get the job done. I do one task at a time and take a break. I start on the task that is urgent and high priority and then the task I can quickly get done and move on to the other task that is time-consuming.
I have an extra hand at home. I hired a maid to do household chores and a nanny to look after my 4-years old son so I will be productive. Instead of me doing the household chores, I hire someone to do them so I can manage to cover many different jobs.
– Which of these jobs do you enjoy the most, and which gives you the most problems?
I enjoy all of them because I always like to learn new things. I always look for a job that is exciting to me. You will always learn new things from different companies, clients, and teams.
You must be comfortable and enjoy what you are doing. If not, it will not work, and you will fail to do your job. I always make sure that my clients are satisfied with the services I provide. Their feedback is very important. Whenever I take a job, I make sure I like working on it.
– How did you manage to master so many skills?
The secret is never stop learning. I do not focus on one or two skills. Clients need an extra hand to get things done. Your skills and capabilities must not be limited. The client will hire someone else to do the other job if my skills are limited. It would be great if your client can throw anything on your plate. This helps your client if you are trustworthy, reliable, resourceful, creative and self-motivated.
Clients are impressed if you have many skills. Clients love it when they don’t need to train you to do things. When you assist or help your clients, that saves them time and energy so they can focus on their business.
When you master a skill, upgrade your skills. Learn new things to upgrade a new skill. If you have multiple skills, it opens up many more opportunities for you in the future. It will not be hard for you to find more jobs or clients.
Clients love suggestions and ideas for the company. If you have an idea or two about how it can be done more efficiently, suggest it. Sometimes the smallest ideas can have the greatest impact. Do more than your job requirements, always offer to help others, be proactive, do things without being asked.
– What skills are clients most often looking for from you?
All around Virtual Assistant, I do a lot of different types of work. My skills and capabilities are not limited.
– Have you had the opportunity to work full time, or have you always wanted to be a freelancer?
Since 2011, working as a freelancer is my full-time job.
When the client offers me 30 hours a week, I still have 30 hours to work with a different client. Now I have 60 hours to work per week! Some clients will offer you 50-60 working hours a week. Working with another client will upgrade my knowledge and skills. I love and enjoy working with business owners from different countries. I like the opportunity to work with them.
I do not need to commute. 1-2 hours going to work and 1-2 hours going home from work? I will spend those 2 – 4 hours commuting to work or spending time with my family.
– What influenced you the most to start freelancing?
I need a job! I need extra income! I can’t just sit here and wait… My daughter feels so sad when I am not around and she gets sick when I leave her with a nanny. I decided not to work and just stay at home, but I still feel like I want to earn additional income to help my husband. I really want to work!
A friend introduced me the Upwork. I had a netbook at that time, so I am only using a netbook when I started working as a freelancer. Then I set up my Upwork account and looked for a job, and after a month, I got a job through Upwork.
I hired a nanny to do the housework and look after my daughter while I am working. My daughter no longer feels sad! I am always with her 24/7.
– How do you approach failures or setbacks?
I always try not to fail. I always do my best to keep my clients satisfied. Their feedback is important. I feel good if I get good feedback from my clients because it means that I am effective all-round Virtual Assistant. I ensure that the work has been done successfully because if they are happy and you exceed their expectations, they will come back and hire you again.
– What are your success habits?
Clients need me as their extra hand to get things done. I always make sure to get things done in a timely manner. I give them the results and I don’t let them to wait.
– What was the best advice you got at the beginning of your freelance career?
Don’t lose hope of getting a client/job. Be patient! Invest in yourself to improve your skills and abilities. If I can, then you can!
I have no experience with all assistant jobs, administration jobs, lead generation, graphics, email marketing, scheduling, etc. I only know in the computer is typing, sending emails and messages. I have a computer that time because my husband gave me a netbook for communication because he is always out of the country.
I used to type slowly in 2011. I don’t know any shortcuts on my keyboard! I used my mouse in copy-pasting! So, what I did was practice typing when I had free time. I visited websites with a typing test.
– And what’s the worst advice you’ve ever got?
Being a freelancer? None. I found my clients and teammates extremely helpful. They will help you grow!
– Have you worked on any freelance platform other than UpWork?
I’ve got referral and direct clients who are outside of Upwork but very few. 90% of my clients are from Upwork.
– Why has UpWork become your choice?
I got a job at Upwork, I get paid, I met and worked with different clients from different countries on Upwork. It’s globally! I am learning new things and developing my skills with my clients through Upwork. You have nothing to worry about whether the client will pay you or not. Upwork freelancers can get secured payments via PayPal or direct deposit. There’s a lot of job post in Upwork daily!
– What are the advantages of a freelance lifestyle for you?
A healthy lifestyle and work balance. I am a happy mother and wife! I am with my children 24/7, I work from home, I can help my husband to save money for our family’s future.
No more daily commuting. I can choose my clients and work with international clients. I can manage my own time, I have multiple sources of income, flexible working hours, I can work wherever I want, skill improvement, control of workload and I have freedom.
– And what are the disadvantages?
Less social life or social interaction. No paid time off so you have to build a vacation into your annual income. No company-sponsored health benefits so you need to have your own insurance, no maternity or paternity leave, working in isolation and no employee benefits.
– What was the hardest decision you ever had to make as a freelnacer?
Since I started working as a freelancer, I am thinking to continue my studies and I wanted to shift to a computer course, but I chose to continue working as a freelancer.
– There are many freelancers with skills similar to yours. What makes you stand out and make you more successful?
My clients want to duplicate me. Ahahahah! I wish I can duplicate myself! I am an extraordinary freelancer, and I am rare to find!
– To succeed, freelancer must also possess certain soft skills, such as communication, organization, time management … Which soft skills were the most challenging for you?
When I was a newbie or new to freelancing. I was so shy. I don’t like video call interviews; I don’t like the online meetings. But eventually, you will get used to it and you will feel comfortable talking to different people.
If you choose to be a freelancer, you need to be comfortable in communicating with your client, teams, you have to know how to manage time, be creative and be a leader.
– What has benefited you the most to become a successful freelancer? Your education, certain books, courses, forums, instructions on freelance platforms or something else?
Learn everything you want to know! There are Google and Youtube! They are my online best friend! Invest in yourself. An investment in your personal and skill development is the best investment you can make.
– If you could start all over again, what would you do differently?
Nothing. I like the way I started. I started with I know nothing on a computer othen than slowness to type, sending messages and emails.
From low hourly rate to a high hourly rate. From a Data Entry to a successful freelancer.
– What is your biggest motivation?
Invest in yourself. Help yourself to gain new knowledge. Never stop learning! Do not lose hope to find a client or job on Upwork or other online job sites. Be focused to find a new job post on Upwork that is relevant to your skills. Once you get hired and have good feedback it will be a good opportunity for you to find and get the new next client.
– What do you love about your job?
It is a non-stop learning. I can work anytime and anywhere I want!
– How important is constant professional improvement?
I have open attitude to learning and development. So, I can proactively do, track, document and reflect on activities that make me better at what I do to develop and enhance my abilities.
– What are you most grateful for in your freelance journey?
I started at $0.83 per hour way back in 2011. I was hoping that time to have at least reach the hourly pay rate of $4. Now, I earn more than I thought!
It was 2011, when I asked some advice from my online coworker because I was not satisfied with my hourly rate $0.83 per hour. His rate was $4 per hour. That time, I want to leave the online job and work in a BPO company. He motivated me to stay and keep working and find clients on Upwork. He told me that no matter how hard you work here in the Philippines, you will grow old, and your salary will not increase like what Upwork can do.
So, I never stop learning and gaining knowledge. I keep my clients on Upwork. I build my profile to stand out! I make sure that my clients will give me great feedback.
So now, finding a new client is not difficult for me. Clients will find me, look at my profile and contact me.
– What is the best way to organize multiple jobs and private life?
Develop habits and build a routine. Find balance. Make a timetable. A time for you to work, a time for your family, a time for your friends and a time for yourself.
– Several factors are important for success. Can you name some of the most important for you?
My knowledge, skills, traits, motivation, attitude, value, trustworthy and being an extraordinary person are the important factors for my success.
– If you had to single out one characteristic that is most important for the success of a freelancer, what would it be?
Trust
– What advice would you give your younger self?
Always read books and learn new things when you are still young. Never stop learning and improving yourself.
– The best advice for those who are considering a freelance career?
Freelancing is for everyone! Freelancing is not only for Experts! As long as you want to earn extra income, you want a part time or full-time job, the freelance career is for you. There are many different types of online jobs out there! Just always learn, gain knowledge, and upgrade your skills. All you need is a computer, internet and your skills to apply for a job.
